I have always been a proponent to realism in video games. I have always wanted a dramatic moment in a game to elicit an emotion from the player. I think that as a medium, video games need to do this to truly be considered art. Now that I have seen the new footage that was leaked from Modern Warfare 2 I may be changing my tone.
The best times I have had with games were the times in which I was able to do something that I couldn’t in real life. It could be from playing an NBA player in NBA 2K to shooting zombies in Call of Duty World at War. When I saw the footage for MW2 I was left thinking questioning if this is what I really want? Does this make me feel the way that I want to feel? Is this the realism that I’ve been waiting for?
As seen in the footage you play as terrorist. They’re inside an Airport picking off what look to be civilian travelers as they make their way through the terminal. You are in control of one of the henchman and it truly looks like you’re simulating terror, or terrorism. One of the things that I have been looking for is a game that truly captures the emotions of war. The idea that people die that shouldn’t and that the casualties of war should be much more realistic then what has currently been portrayed. Many times you are the good guy and there’s a disconnect from what is happening on screen and the gamer. I have played through COD4 and COD WAW and because I was on the “good” side I felt compelled to shot and kill the enemy. They are the enemy and they are trying to kill me. It seems right.
Modern Warfare 2 may be taking this to the next level. You are killing defenseless civilians and causing terror with guns. There will be some that say that other games do this already. Games like GTA or Fallout 3. One of the main differences are the perspective in GTA. Since it is a 3rd person game and you are playing as a character I don’t think there is as much of a connection. I’m not doing those things, Nieko is. Fallout 3 may have the ability to kill civilians, but because it is based in an alternate reality where the environment is like the wild west and thus lawless your actions feel justified. What MW2 is doing is placing you in a real world scenario where things like this have happened and asking the player to act them out. Remind you of a school shootings anyone?
I know I’m going to play this game and I know that I’m going to enjoy it, but I do wonder will I fell the same way playing this scene as I did watching it. Am I ready for Modern Warfare and the emotions that come with it?
Activision has told VG247: “The scene establishes the depth of evil and the cold bloodlessness of a rogue Russian villain and his unit. By establishing that evil, it adds to the urgency of the player’s mission to stop them.
Players have the option of skipping over the scene. At the beginning of the game, there are two ‘checkpoints’ where the player is advised that some people may find an upcoming segment disturbing. These checkpoints can’t be disabled.
Modern Warfare 2 is a fantasy action game designed for intense, realistic game play that mirrors real life conflicts, much like epic, action movies. It is appropriately rated 18 for violent scenes, which means it is intended for those who are 18 and older.”
enjoyed your article..
i know im definately rethinking the game. i dont like how each game has to one-up the last for violence/gore/impact. this is shocking and disturbing… and its made me ask myself, if i want anything to do with that?
call that (or me) what you will… but thats just the emotion it has elicited in me.
This scene is nothing in comparison to what is really happening in reality. You watch the news and you hear and see “18 US soldiers were killed today”.. “46 innocent civilians killed in bloody gun battle”. It always makes me think what kind of person, what kind of people would do this? There is always a sense of disconnect when you are not doing something or something isn't happening to you. For example someone tells you. “Kill him, that man is evil” how do you know he is evil, the only way to know for sure is to live a minute in his shoes. Infinity Ward are giving us that, we might not like it, it might be hard to stomach and it may be crossing the line, but it tells the story of Vladimir Makarov and what kind of terrorist he is in a way no mission briefing or news story ever could.
I find the scene interesting it comes from a different perspective. And like it says it adds a sense of urgency for the player to stop the russians.
There are way much worse things in games so i don't even want to hear people nagging about how its horrible.
Postal , God of war
So cut the bullshit with the shocking and disturbing
i agree with daweii on this like it or not its your choice but as for me i wll be blasting everybody in the game whether it may be because why its a GAME not real life ………
I find the scene interesting it comes from a different perspective. And like it says it adds a sense of urgency for the player to stop the russians.
There are way much worse things in games so i don't even want to hear people nagging about how its horrible.
Postal , God of war
So cut the bullshit with the shocking and disturbing
People need to calm down. It's a VIDEO GAME. Not only that but it's a video game for adults.
I guess that is why they made this optional. Some people may not want to know what kind of terrorist he is. Chalk it up to ignorance or beliefs, but some people don't want to acknowledge these things because they may deem it as supporting it.
I think Postal was just in poor taste, and I thought it got its fair share of backlash as well.
Art is a reflection of life.
People need to calm down. It's a VIDEO GAME. Not only that but it's a video game for adults.
its out tomorrow